Yarn guiding and treating apparatus



R. STEIGETQET AL "YARN GUIDING AND TREATING APPARATUS.

July 19, 1960 Filed March 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN-TOR S fifrfid J2? f 'un-Lvemwi, /"Aud .r 4420- July 19, 1960 Filed March 1 l, 1958 R. STEIGER ETAL YARN GUIDING AND TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR YARN GUIDING AND TREATING APPARATUS I Robert Steiger, Muri, near Bern, Switzerland, and Friedrich Luethy, Wankdortfeldstr. 97, and Alfred Haemrnerle, Dammweg 3, both of Bern, Switzerland Filed Mar. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 720,746

Claims priority, application Switzerland Apr. 15, 1957 Claims. (Cl. 68-205) The present invention relates to yam guiding and treating apparatus.

It is known to treat yarn by winding the same on a pair of rotary substantially parallel shafts which advance the yarn convolutions axially along the shafts, one of these shafts having a treating liquid applied to its outer surface to contact the yarn so as to treat the same. Such apparatus may be used for many purposes such as complete coagulation, de-acidifying, de-sulfurizing, washing, bleaching, and finishing the yarn. While it is very desirable to be able to carry out a pair of successive yarn treatments on the same shaft by applying different treating liquids to discrete successive surface portions of a shaft which are successively engaged by the yarn, up to the present time the problem has not been satisfactorily solved because of the difficulty in maintaining the liquids at the pair of surface portions of the shaft separate from each other. While the problem of simply preventing the liquid on one portion of such a shaft from having access to the liquid on the next portion of the shaft is in itself simple to solve by placing a suitable barrier between the successive shaft portions, the difficulty arises in guaranteeing that the yarn moves properly past such a barrier. In other words, this barrier must on the one hand be capable of maintaining the liquids separate from each other and on the other hand be capable of permitting the yarn to be advanced efiiciently from one of the surface portions to the next surface portion. For example, a soft, easily compressible barrier of rubber or the like located between successive surface portions of a shaft 2,945,370 Patented July 19, 1960 ice each other, and which will reliably prevent movement of the yarn in a reverse direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type which is of a simple rugged construction, which is composed of a relatively small number of parts, and which is very reliable in'op- Which carry different treating liquids cannot successfully operate to prevent the yarn from being retarded in its movement along the shafts while at the same time maintaining the treating liquid separate from each other. Such an elastic, easily deformable barrier of soft rubber or the like has been shown in practice to be incapable of functioning properly. Furthermore, manual transfer of the yarn from one of the treating surface portions to the next'surface treating portion of a shaft also is completely impractical and has proved to be of no use in actual practice.

()ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a fully automatic apparatus which for the first time makes it possible for successive surface portions of a shaft to carry different treating liquids whichare reliably maintained separate from each other and which also makes j and at the same speeds.

eration.

With the above objects in view the present invention includes in an apparatus for guiding and treating yarn, a pair of substantially parallel rotary. shafts which are spaced from each other and about which a loop extends to which one end of a yarn which is helically wound on the shafts is connected, this loop and the yarn'convolutions connected thereto advancing along the rotary shafts, as is well known in the art. One of these rotary shafts has a pair of successive surface portions which are adapted to have applied thereto a pair of different treating liquids for treating the yarn, and this shaft carries between its successive surface portions, in accordance with the present invention, a sling ring means which maintains the two treating liquids separate from each other. The sling ring means of the present invention is formed with a gap which is inclined oppositely to the inclination of the helical convolutions of the yarn, and this gap of'the sling ring means receives the loop and the yarn and advances the'same past the sling ring means from one surface portion of the shaft to the next surface portion of the shaft. yieldable means located between the shafts and aligned with the sling ring means, and this yieldable means is first engaged by the loop to yieldably prevent the same from moving to the gap of the sling ring means so that yarn convolutions which follow the loop become located next to the loop to form a bundle therewith, then the yieldable means yields automatically to free the bundle for axial movement along the surface so that the bundle is received in the gap of the sling ring means and is rapidly advanced thereby to the next surface portion of the shaft which carries the sling ring means, whereupon the yieldable means returns to its rest position where it prevents the yarn which has moved past the sling ring means fro returning to the gap thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, toget-her with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of part of an apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows the position which part of the structure of Fig. 2 takes immediately after it has the position shown in Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of an em bodiment of a yieldable means of the present invention which is different from that of Figs. l-3;

Fig. 5 is a partly sectional elevational view of an embodiment of a sling ring means different from that of Figs. 1-4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a third embodiment of a sling ring means according to the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there are illustrated a pair of substantially parallel elongated rotary shafts 1 and 2 of equal diameter which are rotated in' a known way in the same direction respectively about their axes Although these shafts 1 and Z The present invention also includes a.

are substantially parallel, actually their axes, when projected onto a common plane normal to the plane of Fig. 1, cross over each other and are inclined at a very slight angle with respect to each other in a known way. A yarn 3 which is to be continuously treated'in succession with dilferent treating liquidshas a starting end formedinto a closed loop 4, orthe starting end of the yarn 5 may be connected with a special closed loop 4 made of rubber string, or the like. The closed loop 4 extends between and "passes partly around the shafts El and 2, --and;the convolutions of the yarn 3 also extend between and pass partly around the shafts 1 and 2., as is evident from Figs. 1 and 2 In a known way, this --arrangement causes the loop 4 and the yarn convolutions 3 connected thereto to advance from right to left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The "shaft 2 is provided with discrete successive surface portions 5, 6, 7 separated from each other by a the shaft 1.

plurality of sling ring means :8, in accordance "with the present invention. -These surface portions 5, 6, 7 of the shaft 2 respectively have different treating liquids applied thereto, and these treating liquids are'continuously supplied to the surface portions of the shaft '2, respectively, in a known way. 7

Each of the sling ring means 8 of the present inven tion is in the form of a spiral rib fixed to the shaft 2 and extending through slightly more than one convolution about the shaft 2. It will be noted that the rib 8 is of substantially 'V-shaped cross section and has its crest located distant from'the axis of the shaft :2, so that any treating liquid which reaches the rib 8 will be can trifugally thrown away from the shaft 2, and in this way the treating liquids on the successive surface portions of the shaft 2 are maintained separate from each other by the several sling ring means 8. This construction of the sling ring means provides between the freeoverlapping end portions of each sling ring means a gap 9 which extends along a helix which is inclined oppositely to the inclination of the convolutions of the yarn 3. For example, the gap 9 of each sling ring means extends along a right hand helix while the convolutions of the yarn '3 extend along a left hand helix. It is this gap 9 of each sling ring means which permits the loop 4 and the yarn stantially U-shaped member 12 of the yieldable means is also located in the plane which is normal to a straight line extending across and being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the shafts 1 and 2, and in this plane the member 12 has an inter-mediate elongated substantially straight portion 12a, a right elongated free end 12b,v and a left elongated free end 120. These elongated freecends 12b and 120 are oppositely inclined with re spect to each other and are inclined away from each other. They extend from the intermediate portion 12a toward the plane which includes the axis of shaft 2 and the straight line perpendicular to this'axis and the axis of The yieldability "of the tubular member 11 is carefully chosen so that this structure operates in the following manner:

As may be seen from the left portion of Figs. 1 and 2, the loop 4 which advances from right to left first engages the elongated free end 121: of the yieldable means and is temporarily prevented by the yieldable means from advancing to the gap 9 of the sling ring means. During this time several of the convolutions of the "yarn 3 which succeed the loop 4 become located next to the same to 3 form a bundle therewith, and simultaneously the tube It convolutions to move automatically from .one treating r surface portion of the shaft 2 to the next treating :sur-. face portion while the sling ling means still operates "to mtgintain the different treating liquids separate from each 0' er.

.A yieldable means of the present invention is'loca'ted between the shafts 1 :and .2 in alignment with each of the sling ring means 8, and this yieldable means functions first .to temporarily prevent the loop 4 from advancing to the gap '9 so that successive eonvolutions of the "yarn 3 become located next tothe loop 4 and form a bundle therewith, for then yielding to free this bundle for movement into the gap 9 so that the sling ring means -8 then operates similar to a feeding screw to rapidly advance the entire bundle to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, beyond the sling ring means, and finally the yieldable means prevents the advanced bundle from returning to the gap 9.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 this yieldable means includes a carrier in the form of a stationary bar 10 located between the shafts 1 and 2 and being substantially parallel .to the axes thereof. In this embodiment the yieldable means further includes an elongated rubber tubular member 11 which :is elastically bendable and which is located in a plane normal to a straight line extending across and substantially perpendicular to the axes of the shafts .1 and 2. This is, .in other words, the plane of Fig. 2. The bar 10 fixedly carries a :pin 10a which extends into one .end of the elastic tube 11 .so as to support the latter on the bar 10, and the :other end of the elastic tube .11 receives a pin 12d fixed to a substau, tia-lly U-shaped member 12 for supporting the latter on the elastically bendable elongate member 11. The sub,

bends to an increasing extent toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, as a result of the force acting on the loop 4 and the yarn 3 to advance the latter toward the left. Thus, the loop 4 andsomeiof the yarn convolutions which have become located next to the loop 4 approach closer and closer to the gap 9 of the rotating sling ring means 8 and finally the bundle enters into the gap 9, the yieldable means momentarily taking at this time the position illustrated in Fig. 3. At this moment the sling ring means 3 acts similar to .a feeding screw and advances the handle to the left, :as viewed in Figs. 1-3, so that the bundle advances over the junction between the portions 12a and 12b of the member 12. The bundle is thus advanced to the left at .a greater speed, and at the same time the tube :11 .straightens due to its inherent resiliency and the member 12 returns "to its rest position. 'T he yieldable means at the night portions of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in its rest position where the portion 12a .of the member 12 extends substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 2.

will he noted that with the member 12in its rest position the left leg 12c thereof prevents the yarn convolutions from returning to the gap 9 of the sling ring means 8. In this way, the structure of the invention solves the problem of automatically advancing the yarn from one treating surface portion of the shaft to the next treating surface portion while at the same time guaranteeing that the different treating liquids at the successive treating portions are maintained separate from each other.

In the above-.desciibed example of the present invention the yarn guide member .12 :of the yieldable means 1 take thefoun of 'a rubber tube. .It can, for example, take the form of a coiled steel wire spring. It is .suflicient if it is laterally bendable to the desired extent. It is of course necessary that the member .11 as well as :all other parts of the structure resist .reaction with the treating liquids which may take the form of acids as well as alkalis and bleaching mediums. .Someof theparts of the structure may, for example, be made .out of glass.

Fig. 4 shows a difierent embodiment of :a yieldable means according to the present invention. The member I3 @f this embodiment corresponds to the member and is :of ;a substantially v-shaped cross section .in the plane ofFig. 4 whichlis normal to aistraight line extendingbetween and substantially perpendicular to the axes :of the shafts 1 and 2. member 13 has an exteriorl surface 313a which engages the yarn in a manner to the portion 12a Of the member wA pin :14,

is fixed to and extends from the member 13 toward the bar 10, and this pin 14 is axially shiftable in a sleeve 15 having an end flange fixed to the bar by suitable screws or the like, as shown in Fig. 4. A spring 16 is coiled about the sleeve 15, engages the flange of sleeve 15, and also engages the member 13 to urge the latter away from the bar 10 to the rest position shown in Fig. 4. The sleeve fixedly carries a transverse crosspin 18 which extends through an elongated axial slot 17 of the pin 14 so as to guide the latter and member 13 for axial movement while preventingturning of members 13 and 14. Of course, the pin 18 may be fixed to the pin 14- and extend through a slot of the sleeve 15, and an end of the slot 17 will determine the rest position of member 13. The oppositely inclined surfaces of member 13 which are engaged by the loop 4 and the yarn 3 meet at a rounded apex of the member 13. This member 13 operates similarly to the member 12. Thus, the loop 4 and the yarn 3 which is advanced toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, first engages the right inclined surface of member 13 which gradually moves toward the bar 10 simultaneously compressingthe spring 16 to an increasing extent, and a bundle of yarn is formed next to the loop 4 at this time,

' .Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a sling ring .means of the present invention.

This embodiment is constructed similarly to a screw type pump impeller and is made up of a plurality of blades 19 each of which extends-along part of a helix which extends about the axis of the shaft 2, and these blades 19 are distributed circumferentially about the shaft 2, as shown in Fig. 5.

-Each pair of successive blades 19 defines a gap 20 through which the bundle composed of the loop 4 and some of the convolutions of the yarn- 3 passes in the above-described manner. .This sling ting means of Fig. Sis made up of two or more segments having hub portions 22 located next to each other in a circumferential groove 23 of the shaft 2, and aligned grooves of the hub portions 22 receive a pair of snap rings 21 which retain the several parts of the sling ring means in assembled condition in the groove 23.

The sling ring means may also take the form of a simple circular ring carried by the shaft 2 and having a cylindrical outer surface interrupted by one or more helically inclined grooves each of which forms a gap which functions in the same way as the gap 9.

Fig. 6 discloses still another embodiment of a sling ring means. This sling ring means takes the form of a helically wound ring 24 which extends through slightly more than one revolution and which has its overlapping free end portions located directly next to each other so that they do not form a gap as is the case with the embodiment of Figs. l-4. The ring 24 is made from an elongated channel member of substantially U-shaped cross section which has a pair of side walls interconnected by a base wall which is located next to and fixed with the shaft 2. The side walls of the channel 24 extend away from the axis of the shaft 2 and define between themselves the gap 25 which receives the bundle to advance the same axially from one treating surface to the next treating surface of the shaft 2. The leading end of the channel 24 which first receives the bundle, shown at the right end of channel 24 in Fig. 6, is of inclined wedgeshaped configuration so that the yam passes freely into the gap 25 without engaging any corners of the channel member 24.

It will be noted that the above-described structure of the invention not only operates automatically and efficiently, but in addition it is quite inexpensive.

- It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of textile treating apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a yarn guiding and treating apparatus,

it is not intended to be limited to the details'shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it forvarious applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus'for guiding yarn and treating the same with different treating liquids, in combination, a pair of rotary shafts spaced from and substantially parallel to each other for advancing an endless loop extending between and passing partly around both of said shafts and a yarn connected at one end to said loop and Wound partly around both shafts and extending therebetween so that the rotary shafts advance the loop and the yarn connected thereto along said shafts while contacting the same, one of said shafts having a pair of consecutive outer surface portions adapted to have different treating liquids applied thereto for treating the yarn as it advances along said surface portions; and sling ring means carried by said one shaft between said surface portions thereof for maintaining different treating liquids respectively located at said surface portions separate from each other,

.said sling ring means being formed with a gap inclined oppositely to the inclination of the convolutions of the yarn for receiving the yarn and guiding the same past said sling ring means to prevent said sling ring means from retarding the movement of the yarn axially along said shafts, the ends of said sling ring means adjacent said gap overlapping each other in circumferential direction.

2. In an apparatus for guiding yarn and treating the same with different treating liquids, in combination, a pair of rotary shafts spaced from and substantially parallel to each other for advancing an endless loop extending between and passing partly around both of said shafts and a yarn connected at one end to said loop and wound partly around both shafts and extending therebetween so that the rotary shafts advance the loop and the yarn connected thereto along said shafts while contacting the same, one of said shafts having a pair of consecutive outer surface portions adapted to have different treating liquids applied thereto for treating the yarn as it advances along said surface portions; sling ring means carried by said one shaft between said surface portions thereof for maintaining different treating liquids respectively located at said surface portions separate from each other, said sling ring means being formed with a gap inclined oppositely to the inclination of the convolutions of the yarn for receiving the yarn and guiding the same past said sling ring means to prevent said sling ring means from retarding the movement of the yarn axially along said shafts and said sling ring means being located opposite a continuous surface portion of the other of said shafts; and yieldable means located between said shafts in alignment with and spaced from said sling ring means and having a rest position yieldably preventing the movement of the loop to said gap of said sling ring means until a plurality of convolutions of the yarn become located next to the loop to form a bundle therewith, for then automatically moving yieldably away from said 

